Materials:
3 x 200gr hanks of Banana Fibre Yarn;
2 of one shade for the body, 1 for the collar, bottom edge and ties.
1 size 10mm circular needle, no shorter than 60cm, or any size to give you a stitch tension of 9 stitches x 13 rows over 10cm2
2 stitch markers & 1 stitch holder.
Knitting notes:
The body & sleeves of this shrug are knitted in one piece, from cuff to cuff, using stockinet stitch = knit 1 row, purl back.
The collar, hem & ties are knitted in rounds of garter stitch, from stitches picked up around the edges of the finished main piece.
Garter stitch in rounds: knit 1 round, purl the next round.
The design includes short rows, using wrap & turn technique.
Sizes: small, medium, large fit Ladies sizes 8-10, 12-14, 16 -18.
Body & Sleeves:
Cast on 24 stitches, knit 3 rows and increase 6 stitches evenly in the 4th row = 30 stitches.
Knit 3 rows in stockinet stitch and then increase 1stitch at each end in the 4th row.
Repeat these 4 rows 5, 7, 9 times = 42, 46, 50 stitches.
Knit a further 2, 4, 6 rows.
Next row: cast off 21, 23, 25 stitches, knit to end.
This completes the first sleeve, with the cast off edge becoming the neck edge and the other edge the hem.
Knit 2, 4, 6 more rows, ending at hem edge.
Short row: knit to last 5 stitches, wrap & turn = slip next stitch, wrap yarn around this stitch, slip it back & turn, purl to end.
Continue knitting across all stitches working a short row every 4th row 10 times, including the 1st wrap & turn:Knit 2, 4, 6 more rows, ending at hem edge.
Purl back to neck edge and cast on 21, 23, 25 stitches and repeat instructions for first sleeve in reverse = work decreases instead of increases.
Cast off 24stitches.
Sew up sleeves, leaving 5cm, 7.5cm, 10cm open, these edges become part of the bottom or hem edge – see photograph.
With right side facing pick up 22, 25, 27 stitches up front edge, 9 stitches across neck edge, 22, 25, 27 stitches down the other front side and 51 stitches along bottom edge which includes to 2 open edges of the sleeve. You should now have 104, 110, 114 stitches. Mark the corner stitches at the front with a stitch marker and knit 8 rounds in garter stitch, increasing 1stitch each side of the marked corner stitch every 2nd round.
Cast off very loosely across the whole edge except 5 stitches on each corner. Place the 1st 5 stitches on a stitch holder and precede knitting the first tie on stitches left on needles as stated.
Ties & Finishing:
Join yarn to the other 5 corner stitches and knit a tie approximately 20cm long, cast off. Sew in all ends.